Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Gen VK Singh, who officially took charge as the 26th Chief of the Indian Army on Thursday stressed that the internal health of the armed forces has to be improved if it is to successfully meet the challenges.
Speaking to reporters shortly after assuming the office, Gen Singh said, “It’s a moment of pride for me and I feel humbled to become the chief of our distinguished Army. Through you (media) I would like to assure the whole nation that our armed forces will firmly stand up to any challenge that our nation faces in future.”
When questioned about how he intends to deal with the rising cases of corruption in Indian Army and involvement of several top officers in scandals and scams (Sukna scam), Gen Singh said, “The values and ethos of the Indian Army must be maintained. I will focus attention on improving "internal health" of the force to weed
out corrupt practices.”
When quizzed about Indian Army’s stand vis-à-vis China’s military preparedness, Gen Singh remarked, “Indian Army is well prepared to face any threat from China,”
Gen Singh, who has vast experience in counter-insurgency operations and prior to taking over as Army Chief was the GOC-in-C of Kolkata-based Eastern Command.
He was on Wednesday handed over charge of the Indian Army, the world`s second largest, by outgoing chief Gen Deepak Kapoor and he will stay at the helm of the 1.13 million strong Army for over two years.
Incidentally, he is also the first trained commando to take over as the Army Chief.
Singh was in the news recently when he recommended action against four General-ranked officers indicted by a probe in the Sukna land scam in Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
A third generation officer from the Rajput regiment, Singh had participated in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War as a young captain. He is a graduate of the Wellington-based Defence Services Staff College as well as the US Army War College at Carlisle. He also did a Rangers Course, a prestigious commando training, at Fort Benning in the US.
Singh was commissioned in the Rajput Regiment in June 1970 and commanded the same unit when it was positioned along the Line of Control with Pakistan.
Experienced in counter-insurgency, Line of Control and high altitude operations, Singh was awarded the Yudh Sena Medal for his distinguished service during `Operation Pawan` against the LTTE in Sri Lanka.
Singh, who has seen action in the 1971 war, also served in the Military Operations Directorate at the Army Headquarters and was Brigadier General Staff of a Corps during `Operation Parakram` when troops were mobilised on the border in the wake of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament.
He also commanded the Jalandhar-based 11 Corps and Ambala-based Strike Corps and was an instructor in the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) headquarters in Bhutan.
Singh was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for distinguished service while commanding a counter-insurgency force.
The General has an illustrious record in the Army for standing first in the Young Officers Course of Infantry and again being awarded the Commando Dagger for standing first in the Commando Course.
Singh will be the 24th Indian to be the Army chief, as the first two Indian Army chiefs were British officers General Sir Robert Lockhart and General Sir Roy Bucher.
The Indian Army has so far had 14 Infantry, six Armoured and five Artillery officers, including Gen Kapoor, as its chiefs.
